The Sixth Annual No Kiss Blogfest is Here!

And I've brought Thor and Eve to the party for your enjoyment! A fabulous almost kiss from BEYOND FATE -- which is available for your reading pleasure, along with the rest of the Fate of the Gods trilogy, now COMPLETE! Thanks so much to Amanda Byrne for hosting the event this year!

So just a quick little introduction to set the mood: Having at last been granted the freedom to reveal himself to Eve, Thor is beginning all over again with the courting. And he's pulling out all the stops. Including clearing her out a bedroom of her very own in Asgard. Should she choose to ever wish to spend the night...

“If you desire to spend so much time in Asgard, it seemed only right that you should have a space of your own in Bilskirnir.” He nodded to the bed. “You can sleep here, undisturbed, if you wish it.”

She considered the bed again, and Thor swallowed against the absent thought that rose in her mind, of how much more easily they might share it than the bed in her dorm. And then her gaze caught on the table beside it, and Thor smiled, watching the play of emotion as it spilled into her aura. Surprise so intense it bordered upon shock, and then, as her fingers closed upon the ivory bracelet he had left there, wonder and delight. He allowed himself to enter the room, then, and stand at her side. The better to see her face.

“You kept this,” she said, looking up. “All this time?”

“It was what I had of you, of our marriage and the life we shared.”

“It looks exactly the same,” she said, her fingers tracing the vines he had carved and filled with gold so carefully. The blisters had been worth it, to see the way her eyes had lit. A bridal gift fit for a chieftain’s daughter. Fit for a goddess.

“As it should,” he said. “While it was here, it did not age. And I kept it safe.”

“Thor, this is…” She shook her head, her gaze falling back to the bracelet, and he smiled. Wordlessly, he took it from her, then slipped it over her hand and onto her wrist.

When she lifted her face, her eyes searching his, he tucked a soft curl behind her ear.

“It is still my gift to you.”

She caught his hand, pressing it to her cheek. “Thank you.”

He searched her eyes, drinking in this moment. She was his Tora, his Eve in a way she hadn’t been in centuries, and this time, he would not make the same mistakes. “So many times, I’ve wondered what our lives would have been if I had trusted you in that life with my secrets, as you trusted me with yours. I wish I had told you everything. I wish I had truly stolen you away, as you asked, taken you all the way to Asgard when we left that beach. But I was too afraid you would turn from me if you knew me for a god. And I was too selfish to risk the truth, to risk losing you.

“I am so sorry, Eve. If I had known how long we would be parted, how much pain you would suffer between that life and this…”

She pressed a finger to his lips, stopping him. “If you had told me then, asked me to follow you to Asgard, I’m not certain that I would have agreed. We would have lost that lifetime together, completely, and I cannot see how we would be standing here, now.”

He lowered his head, resting his forehead against hers. She made a soft sound, pleasure and desire mixed together, and her eyes closed. Their noses brushed, her breath against his lips, making him ache, and the scent of sunlight on her skin, of summer and cream, filling his head. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to do more than kiss her. He wanted to remind her, body and soul, of everything they had shared together, every gift of love they had given to one another.

But he did not dare. She was still so fragile, and when she was ready, when she knew her own mind, she would come to him.

She would ask it of him.

He let his hand fall from beneath hers, rubbing the memory of her skin, rose-petal soft, from his fingertips, and stepped back.

“I should leave you to your reading.”

Eve let out a breath, her cheeks flushed and her eyes half-dazed with need, naked and hungry. When she looked at him that way—he clenched his jaw against his own desire and left her, before he changed his mind.

Don't forget to visit the other participants and get your fill of Almost Kisses to start your new year off right!

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No Kiss Blogfest, Part 6!

Are you ready for some No Kiss Action? The sixth annual No-Kiss Blogfest is coming on January 2nd, and if you haven't, you should 100% absolutely sign up with your favorite UST-y almost-kiss scene!

So, the RULES:

1) Sometime between now and Jan 2, 2015 write a post about the No Kiss Blogfest to let everyone know you are participating and that they should, too. Make sure you link back to this post!

2) Sign up for the No Kiss Blogfest by filling in the form below. Because we like forms. Oh yes we do.

3) Tweet about No Kiss Blogfest, using the hash tag: #nokissblogfest

4) After you've recovered from New Years Eve, write a blog sharing your Almost Kiss, No Kiss Blogfest entry. This can be from a WIP, an upcoming release, something you made up on the spur of the moment. Hell, it doesn't even have to be yours. You could post a scene from your favorite book or movie - just make sure you credit it properly. And don't forget to link back to this post!

I'll be serving up some #ThorLove here, and I can't wait to read what everyone else has to offer!

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Buy Now:
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BEYOND FATE Blogtacular!

Paperback | Kindle | Nook

BEYOND FATE is in the wilds, and I'm talking about it pretty much nonstop around the blogosphere -- so just in case you missed any of the guest post action, here's what we've got so far:

• 9/16 - Talking about Wrapping Up a Trilogy on Rebecca Roland's Spice of Life
• 9/17 - The Goddess Elah gets a post at Michelle Lowery Combs' Through the Wormhole
• 9/18 - Discussing the Political and Geographical Landscape of the FUTURE at The Fairy Tale Magazine.
• 9/19 - BEYOND FATE excerpt/teaser at Elise Forier Edie's blog!
• 9/19 - Crafting Beyond Fate (and Writing the Trilogy Out of Order) over at World Weaver Press
• 9/19 - Book Spotlight and Excerpt at Belle's Book Bag
• 9/20 - Beyond Fate and the Long Goodbye: Saying Farewell to Thor and Adam on Ketch's Book Nook
• 9/22 - My Beyond Fate playlist! at Howling Turtle
• 9/24 - Book Boyfriends of BEYOND FATE at Breathless Ink
• 10/18 - The End is The Hardest Part to Write at Reading Between the Wines Book Club
• 10/20 Cover and Excerpt at Cover Reveals

Did I mention also, that you can get FORGED BY FATE, book one in the Fate of the Gods trilogy, for just 2.99 right now? So if you have a friend who might like the series, it's the perfect time to give the gift of Thor! (Or Adam, if you prefer to consider it that way.)

But don't forget there's still time to join in on the fun yourself! Spread the word and enter to win awesome stuffs!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Buy Now:
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PonyFest14! And Fate of the Gods Ponies!

When I was a little girl, I loved My Little Pony (there was a girl named Molly, or Mollie, or something, and as a little girl, my family nickname was Molly, so it was a big deal and I could IDENTIFY with her pony adventures!) I loved playing with the pony toys (with my action figures and barbies, naturally.)

Now that I'm all grown up, I am really enjoying the My Little Pony reboot, Friendship is Magic. El Husband and I watch it together when we need a fun pick-me-up after a stressful day! So I am VERY excited to take part in #PonyFest14, hosted by the awesome Rebecca Enzor, because My Little Pony is awesome, and the only thing AWESOMER than My Little Pony, generally, is being able to make CUSTOMIZED ponies for your characters with the Pony Creator.

Now, I learned about PonyFest too late last year to participate, but this year, I am throwing my ponies in the ring. And in honor of BEYOND FATE's release, I'm offering up some Fate of the Gods ponies -- Thor (the one I'd really love to win in the plastic!), Adam, and Eve.

So let me tell you a little bit about my Thor pony, as per the rules:

He's the God of Thunder, so it only seemed fitting that he should be a unicorn, because MAGIC, and of course his cutie mark *has* to be Mjolnir, his magic war hammer (which I styled out of lightning for funsies). I paired Thor with Eve, because he's devoted his immortality to keeping her safe, and Eve's cutie mark is the symbol for her House of Lions -- her family descended directly from her first marriage to her first husband, Reu, at the dawn of Creation. They're French in the modern world, so she got a beret, too. Adam and Eve have similar coloring because they're genetically identical, aside from sex and personality. Adam's cutie mark is the apple -- the golden-crimson fruit from the tree of knowledge, which he was so desperate to find.

And the main tagline for FATE OF THE GODS:

After Adam fell, God made Eve to protect the world.

PonyFest has a bunch of prizes -- including your own custom pony, and lots of books! -- so if you want to enter to win, check out Rebecca's #Ponyfest14 blogpost for more info and the complete rules!

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Buy Now:
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Endre is Here (with a Giveaway!)

We're celebrating the release of Endre (Elsker Saga #2)
by S.T. Bende!

Kindle | Paperback | Nook | Kobo

Endre (Elsker Saga #2) by S.T. Bende
Upper YA/NA Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

Sometimes, finding your destiny means doing the exact opposite of what The Fates have planned.

Winning the heart of an immortal assassin was a dream come true for Kristia Tostenson. Now she’s knee deep in wedding plans, goddess lessons, and stolen kisses. But her decision to become immortal could end in heartbreak -- not only for Kristia, but for the god who loves her. Because while Ull would do anything to protect his bride, even the God of Winter is powerless against the Norse apocalypse. Ragnarok is coming.

And the gods aren’t even close to ready.

Excerpt

When I came to, my chest heaved with sobs. Cold sweat cloaked my body from my forehead to the backs of my knees. My hair was damp, my pulse was racing, and my fingers gripped the sheets so tightly my knuckles ached. I was in my room at Ýdalir, the one place I had always felt safe. Only now I was absolutely terrified.

I ripped the covers off and wrapped my arms around my legs. My nose twitched at an unfamiliar smell. I pulled the cord on the bedside lamp, and looked around to see what might be burning. There was no smoke in the room; all of the furniture seemed to be intact. But when I glanced down, I saw the hems of my pajamas. They were black, singed from the fire I’d desperately hoped had been part of a dream.

This time things had gone too far. If my smoldering pant legs were any indication, being injured in a vision could have far-reaching worldly consequences. And if Elfie had come that close to killing me . . .

Ull had his rules, but I no longer cared. I jumped out of bed and raced down the hallway. When I reached his door I pounded on the distressed wood. Tears streamed down my face but I didn’t bother to wipe them away. The downpour was too intense; it wouldn’t have done any good anyway.

The door flew open and Ull stood on the other side. He wore a loose pair of grey sweatpants and nothing else. Oh hot bejeebus. There was no way this guy was for real. It just wasn’t humanly possible to look that good.

Oh, right. Ull wasn’t human.

Despite the agony coursing through my awakening consciousness, this was a moment of glory I’d remember forever—the first time I saw Ull’s naked torso. His sweats hung low on his hips, affording me a view of the cut just above the bone.

Holy Lord.

“Kristia?” Ull rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He took in my matted hair, tear-streaked face, and shaking hands. “Great Odin. What happened?”

He pulled me to him, crushing my face against the muscles of his chest. The knot in my stomach loosened infinitesimally. Just being near Ull gave me peace, but being this near Ull was like taking a sedative. Breathing in his woodsy smell made my panic subside. And when he pressed his hands against me—one to my hair, the other against the small of my back—my gut knew I was safe. Nothing bad could happen to me so long as I was in Ull’s arms. I inhaled again, letting his familiar scent fill me from the inside until my shaking stilled. Then I pressed my lips against his skin. Hard.

“Sweetheart?” he asked again.

“I had another vision and it freaked me out. Can I stay with you?” I didn’t take my lips off his chest as I spoke. I couldn’t. He tasted divine—like spruce and soap and home. There was a very real possibility my mouth might be permanently adhered to his flesh, like a kid who’d tried to lick a frozen railing.

Only this was far less unpleasant.

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Amazon bestselling Upper YA Paranormal Romance series inspired by Norse mythology and featured in USA Today.

What reviewers are saying about The Elsker Saga:

"The characters will leave an imprint on your heart and mind for a long time to come." -Lisa (Bound by Books) 

"Bende takes classic bits of Norse mythology and throws in original elements to create her own tasty Nordic blend... I'll definitely be checking out the sequel!" -Bookalicious Reviews 

"One of my favorite books of the year." -White Zin Bookends 

"Action packed with a heart pounding romance!" -Curse of the Bibliophile 

"This book was nearly impossible to put down and I'm dying for the sequel!" -Brittany and Bianca Blab Books (now BiblioBelles)

Tur: An Elsker Saga Novella (Prequel)

AMAZON - BARNES&NOBLE - KOBO

Inga Andersson is the envy of every girl in Asgard. On the surface she has it all -- great friends, a job as Odin’s personal fight choreographer, and a happy ever after with her realm’s hottest assassin. But when evil invades Asgard, her perfect world comes crashing down. Someone is planning to kill off the gods, and Inga’s best friend Ull is first on their list. With the Norse apocalypse a nanosecond away, Inga has to decide how she’ll spend her final moments of freedom. Because from the moment this battle begins, Inga’s happily ever after will be nothing more than a memory.

Some things are worth fighting for.

Elsker: The Elsker Saga Book One

AMAZON

You don't win the heart of an immortal assassin without making a few enemies along the way. Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn't exactly what she was expecting. He's an honest to goodness Norse God - an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia's crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms.

Her orderly life just got very messy.

About ST Bende:

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of McVities cookies. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the books of The Elsker Saga. She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day, pastries will be considered a health food.

Find ST on Twitter @stbende or her blog (http://stbende.blogspot.com). While you’re at it, introduce yourself to @UllMyhr -- when he’s not saving the cosmos from dark elves, he loves meeting new friends. Especially the human kind.

Blog - ST Bende on Twitter - Ull Myhr on Twitter - Facebook - GoodReads

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(Yes, I'm still on Hiatus, I swear! But you can't expect me not to support my fellow Norse Myth Author and #ThorLove friend! Elsker is a lot of fun if you haven't read it -- start with the (Free!) prequel, Tur, and go from there--if you like sweet romance with supernatural heroes, it's definitely worth checking out The Elsker Saga!)

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Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Liebster Awarded

I may have been Liebstered in the past already, but since the questions are always changing, I do not see why I should not Liebster again! (and yeah, I know, this is two questionnaire type posts in a row but they are different! so! there!)

Thanks to Michael Robinson for the awarding! You should all check out his blog, and also follow him on twitter (@mkronline), because he tweets interesting and thought provoking happenings, so get on over there post haste and hit the follow button.

His questions for me (and the fabulous Valerie Valdes, who you should also follow immediately):

1. You both have wonderful families. How do you balance being wonderful back to them and writing regularly? Asking for a friend.

I do have a wonderful family, as defined by El Husband and our cat(s). It's pretty easy to be wonderful back to my cat(s), because all they really need is for me to provide some lap to sleep on, and they even sometimes share it with my laptop without too much complaint. El Husband is also pretty low maintenance, and I do most of my work before he gets up in the morning and after he goes to work, so when he's home, he can generally capture my attention without too much trouble (assuming I am not mid-draft on something I need done yesterday, of course.)

I also live in pretty close proximity to my parents and one of my sisters (hopefully two of my sisters, soon enough), and some of my extended family -- Cousintry, I am looking at you! We're pretty tight-knit. And finding balance there is a little bit trickier, but mostly it involves me trying to clear my schedule for a block of time when people are around to do things, and beyond that saying "Look, I'm really sorry, but I have to write." Sometimes it works, sometimes I get behind.

I can't imagine figuring it out if I had more than just el husband and the cat to worry about, so I have a lot of respect for the writers out there who have kids and still manage to get words on the page. Seriously, it boggles my mind, you are all amazing.

2. How does the local climate inform your writing?

I do not always get to write things that are set in a climate which allows me to draw from my local climate experiences, but man, in Upstate New York, we get all four seasons, and they are pretty much all awesome -- with the possible except of Summer, which is a humid, energy-sapping beast, sometimes -- so it's pretty great. I have written a couple of short stories/novellas which are much more informed by my local climate and my personal experiences in that regard, because there are days that I go outside and breathe it all in, and my fingers itch to capture everything in that moment.

But I guess, it's more the natural world around me as a whole which informs my writing, more than just the climate.

3. What is your favorite Twitter hashtag and why?

#ThorLove

do I really need to explain?

Sidenote: it was Mr. Robinson who coined my catchphrase of "Come for Thor, stay for more!" so. Credit where it is due!

4. Thoughts on traditional publishing?

Um. Traditional publishing definitely has the advantage when it comes to distribution and marketing when they choose to make use of it, but it isn't quite so nimble and while I think it is trying really hard to remake itself and change with the times, it's a lot harder for the behemoth that is trad pub to switch things up and turn on a dime than it is for individual authors or small indie presses. Right now there's a lot of change in the industry, but I think that we'll come out the other side and traditional publishing will figure out how to make it work when things start to smooth out. It's kind of like the Catholic Church -- change is really slow, and really deliberate, but change happens. Of course, that doesn't always mean it's the change we WANT, but I have hope. For traditional publishing. And the Church, I guess, now that Pope Francis is social-justicing it up. TIME WILL TELL!

Now, I must choose two people and come up with some questions to ask them...

I'm going to point the finger at the awesome MIA HAYSON because zombies and hilarity and ZAK TRINGALI because The Five Kingdoms!

Questions:
1) Can you tell us about the project you are currently most excited about?
2) Facebook vs Google+ vs Twitter vs Tumblr GO! Which social media platform do you think is going to win king of the mountain for writers this year?
3) What is your favorite kind of storytelling? (interpret this as you like.)
4) Which literary character (or character of your own invention) would you MOST like to hang out with regularly, and why?

Cover Reveal for Timespell: Perilous Waters!!!

So my fabulous and amazing Critique Partner/Alpha/Beta-Extraordinaire Diana Paz is publishing the second book in her TIMESPELL series May 15th, and I am absolutely THRILLED to be part of her cover reveal today -- TIMESPELL itself was a fantastic blend of timetravel, fantasy, history, and mythology for young adult readers, and I like to think Di's Timespell books are creating readers who will appreciate my FATE OF THE GODS series a few years down the line!

So let's get to business, shall we? FIRST, the cover copy:

After nearly losing their lives defeating the creatures of Mythos in Revolutionary France, Julia and Kaitlyn finally understand what Angie has known all along… being a Daughter of Fate isn’t so fun when one mistake can mean their deaths. Haunted by visions and horror-filled memories, the girls have spent the summer honing their newly discovered magical abilities, determined to grow in power and prepare for the uncertain time when the Fates summon them to their next mission.

But their protector Ethan, still embittered by Julia’s betrayal, refuses to engage in the girls’ magical research or power-enhancing spell practice. That is, until his brother’s loyalty to Julia causes him to unwittingly uncover ancient magic greater and more binding than any force the girls have encountered so far. Before the girls or Ethan grasp the full extent of what his brother has done, the girls are jettisoned through time into the madness of the Caribbean during the golden age of piracy.

Only by working together can the girls harness the full power of their magic and secure the world timeline, but with the lives of those close to Angie and Julia at risk, and Kaitlyn designing a dark agenda of her own, all three girls harbor secrets that threaten to drive their fledgling trinity apart. Small treacheries, mounting fear, and the use of dark magic have not gone unnoticed by those trapped within the Nether… those who would stop at nothing to unleash their destruction upon the world once more.

Publication date: May 15th 2014
Add it on Goodreads

And if that doesn't sell you, here is the FANTABULOUS cover art for TIMESPELL: PERILOUS WATERS!

More about Diana Paz:
Diana Paz writes books about magic, adventure, and romance. She was born in Costa Rica, grew up on Miami Beach, moved to Los Angeles in high school, and went to college in San Diego. Basically, she’s a beach bum. Diana graduated from California State University, San Marcos with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts. She loves old movies, epic fantasy, all kinds of music, and heading to the beach with a good book. Preferably sipping a highly sweetened iced coffee. Find her at her blog: dianapazwrites.blogspot.com or on Twitter @dianapazwrites

I can't wait for this book to come out!! And if you haven't read TIMESPELL, don't worry -- there's a giveaway for that! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Writerly Blog-Hopping!

I was invited to participate by the fabulous Susan Smith-Josephy, who is a not only a writer of win, but also a faithful twitter friend -- and so a little bit more about her:

Susan Smith-Josephy is a writer, researcher and editor based in Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada. Her first book, Lillian Alling: the journey home is a true account about a woman who, in the 1920s, walked from New York to Siberia via Canada and Alaska. Susan's next non-fiction history book is about Jean Caux, the famed packer, who is known in British Columbia as Cataline. Her most recent fiction project is the short story “The Ogopogo Club” which was selected to be part of the Kindle All Stars newest book “Carnival of Cryptids.” She is currently working on a series of short stories based on her obsession with Mars.

You can learn more about Susan, her fiction, and her non-fiction work at her website www.susmithjosephy.com, find her on twitter (@susmithjosephy), facebook, pinterest, writersglob.blogspot.ca, writingsnoir.blogspot.ca, and at about.me/susmithjosephy.

So! 4 Questions For Which I Must Have Answers:

1) What am I working on?

I've got a couple of balls in the air right now -- First and Foremost, the promotional/last minute details side of releasing HONOR AMONG ORCS April 1st, which is the first book in my brand new Orc Saga, where Beauty and the Beast meets Tolkien! I'm really excited to share Bolthorn with the world -- this book started as what I was convinced would only be a short story, and grew up into something way beyond my wildest dreams. I never EVER thought I'd be writing this kind of high fantasy book, but I'm totally in love with it now that I have.

I'm also working on the as yet untitled Orc Saga: Book Two, and a potential idea for a new Fate of the Gods novella revolving around Athena, which I can't really say anything more about at the moment. Plus there might be something to do with Pirithous and Hippodamia in progress with That Other Amalia.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Well, Fate of the Gods is a blend of history, fantasy, and myth -- which maybe doesn't seem that different, at first, but it begins with a retelling of Creation, giving Adam and Eve a new spin, and continues on to incorporate pretty much all the biggest pantheons throughout history by following Thor's adventures from the birth of Moses to the future.

HONOR AMONG ORCS is a new take on the Orc and the classic Beauty and the Beast story -- in the Orc Saga, the beauty must rescue the beast from an enchantment which has nothing to do with love (for one's own self or another), and there is a very large and looming threat of war and slavery upon the horizon if they don't succeed. And the orcs? Let's just say they're a lot more than terrifying monsters in the night, though Arianna was convinced they were only tales used to frighten children before she met Bolthorn.

3) Why do I write what I do?

Because it's fun. I mean. That's really what it comes down to in the end. It's fun, and something about the characters or the idea grabs me and won't let go until I'm done, and I love it. I particularly like filling in those empty spaces where we really don't know what happened -- like, if the Christian God is THE God, then why did he let these other gods have their day? I mean, the Romans were no small power, and the Olympians were a really big deal for a long time. Same with the Egyptians. Same with the Hindus, even still today! So could there be some explanation above our pay grade? Some deal made between the gods we never got a memo about? Or, if in The Silmarillion, Tolkien says the Orcs were Elves once, why didn't anyone go after them and try to rescue them before they were tortured into monsters? (I mean, my world isn't Tolkien's, but that seed of an idea definitely germinated for me.) It's those kinds of questions which generally spawn my stories, and I kind of love looking for the answers through fiction.

4) How does my writing process work?

Well, I usually start with a question and a character. For HONOR AMONG ORCS, it was the orc, Bolthorn, and a question of how a human woman and an orc might meet and what circumstances might cause them to befriend one another, rather than just the usual rape and pillage and awfulness. For FATE OF THE GODS, it was Eve, and the question of "What if all the gods are real?" And then I follow the character along to learn what happened and how it all worked out and discover the answers with them. I don't know what's going to happen, really, until it's written. Maybe I have a broad stroke here or there that becomes clear to me, but I don't plot or outline. Mostly, it's just writing. Sitting down and opening up the document and following my characters on their journeys.

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Now I must tag 3 writers to follow me in this bloghoppin' madness -- they'll be posting on Monday, the 24th on their blogs.

Diana Paz!

Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Blog | Website

Diana Paz writes books about magic, adventure, and romance. She was born in Costa Rica, grew up on Miami Beach, moved to Los Angeles in high school, and went to college in San Diego. Basically, she’s a beach bum. Diana graduated from California State University, San Marcos with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts. She loves old movies, epic fantasy, all kinds of music, and heading to the beach with a good book. Preferably sipping a highly sweetened iced coffee.
(NB: Tune in on March 19th for the cover reveal of her second book, TIMESPELL: PERILOUS WATERS)

Zak Tringali!

Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Blog | The Five Kingdoms | Tumblr

Zachary Tringali is a freelance writer living in sometimes sunny, always swampy Gainesville, Florida. When he’s not writing for work or for fun, he’s an avid runner, folk lore and myth enthusiast, and a fan of all things geek from comics to video games.

and

Kristina Wojtaszek!

Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Blog

Kristina Wojtaszek grew up as a woodland sprite and mermaid, playing around the shores of Lake Michigan. At any given time she could be found with live snakes tangled in her hair and worn out shoes filled with sand. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management as an excuse to spend her days lost in the woods with a book in hand. She currently resides in the high desert country of Wyoming with her husband and two small children. She is fascinated by fairy tales and fantasy and her favorite haunts are libraries and cemeteries.

The 5th Annual No Kiss Blogfest is Here!

WELCOME to Frankie's 5th Annual No Kiss Blogfest!!

First, I hope you've kicked off your shoes and made yourself comfortable, because there is no point in rushing through the wonderfulness that is No-Kisses! You'll waste all the delicious UST and Angst! And why don't you go ahead and check out the other participants' entries now -- I'll wait!

You're back? Good! On to more No Kiss Pleasure!

Second, I hope you'll like my offering for this year's party. I searched through my Fate of the Gods books -- at least the ones which are published -- for a sample of some No-Kiss action, but I wasn't satisfied with any of my options for this magical day. Mia definitely has a no-kiss moment with Jean DeLeon in Tempting Fate, and Eve... well, let's just say I didn't want to spoiler anything for anyone, and all her no-kisses would have been just that: Spoilers! 

So today, I'm going to give you a VERY special teaser for a VERY special project you've heard a little bit about before. It goes by a new name now, and there will be more details soon, including some unbelievably outstanding cover art coming your way once I escape the writer cave long enough to organize the reveal. But for now, let me just set the scene and whet your appetite. 

Arianna is a princess who is taking her fate into her own hands. Bolthorn is the mysterious Orc who inspired her to do so, and they're currently sick, injured, and fleeing for their lives. (But there's always time for a no kiss along the way!)

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He knew these woods, sparse as they had become, and when they broke, he knew the tundra of the foothills too. Just before dawn, he found the outcrop beneath which he had made a shelter his first night beyond the mountains, and though he did not dare to light a fire, the sedge made a soft bed.

After a meal of apples and cheese, the last of their food, Arianna curled against his side, sharing the fur, and rested her head on his shoulder. He tested her forehead for fever and breathed his relief when she did not burn against his palm.

She tugged his hand away, a small smile curving her lips. “You worry overmuch. There are still two days of warmth before I must fight your cruel winds. I will be well enough for your mountains by then.”

His fingers lingered against her skin and her smile faded. He traced the clan-markings on her cheek and her lips parted, her heart thrumming in his ears.

“Bolthorn –”

Up the bridge of her nose and over her eyebrow, the umber flaked from her skin, coloring his fingertip. Down along the line of her jaw, to the pulse point beneath. Her breathing hitched. He only wished the marks had reached her collarbone, to give him some excuse to trail his fingers across the smooth skin there.

“You make a beautiful orc.”

“Not a Vala?” she asked, her eyelashes sweeping across her cheek.

“The Vala cannot marry.” The sunlight caught in her hair, flashing reds within the rich brown and he smoothed the soft, wild strands from her face. “They cannot bear children, or know the touch of any kind of man after they have made their vows. They know only the ancestors and the mysteries they reveal.”

“Oh,” she breathed.

Oh. It was the first thing she had ever said to him, trembling against the stone. She trembled now, too. As she should, he thought, knowing herself within the arms of an orc. He closed his eyes and drew his hand back. This was a dangerous game to play with her so near, so vulnerable.

“Sleep well, princess,” he said, his jaw tight against his need. “You’ll want your strength.”

She made a noise in the back of her throat, but when he glanced at her, she had turned away.

---

So there you have it. Your first teaser for my next novel. HONOR AMONG ORCS will be releasing this spring, and I cannot WAIT to share Bolthorn and Arianna's journey with everyone!!

The 5th Annual NO KISS Blogfest!

You read that correctly, blogfriends! The NO KISS blogfest, as hosted by Ms. Frankie Diane Mallis is coming -- this year, with a small change of hosting venue,* as Frankie is doing ALL THE THINGS (seriously have you seen her course listings because I want to take all her classes please) and neither one of us wanted to see this most excellent of traditions fall by the wayside! Rest assured, however, her vision (and participation!) will remain intact!

Your mission on January 2, 2014, should you choose to accept it, is to share that most elusive and satisfying of scenes: the ALMOST KISS! It can be yours, or your favorite from a book you love, or even a scene from a film or television series -- all formats are acceptable, as long as no lips actually lock!

So, direct from Frankie's own blogpost announcing last year's event, the RULES:

Things You Should Do To Prepare For The Ultimate Non-Kissage Festivities!

1) Sometime between now and Jan 2, 2014 write a post about the No Kiss Blogfest to let everyone know you are participating and that they should too. Why? Because it's awesome! (Please link back)

2) Sign up for the No Kiss Blogfest by filling in the Mr. Linky below.  Because Mr. Linky is awesome.

3)Tweet about No Kiss Blogfest, using the hash tag: #nokissblogfest because #hashtagsareawesome

4) After you've recovered from New Years Eve, write a blog sharing your Almost Kiss, No Kiss Blogfest entry (either one from your WIP, one you just wrote, one from a book, movie or tv show, or even a really hot almost-kiss picture)and post on January 2, 2014!!! Because reading your posts are awesome! (Don't forget to link back)

I would add one more thing to Frankie's To-Do list and that's this:

5) Settle in at your computer on January 2 and enjoy the buffet of No-Kisses!

And, of course, we always have to have a rockin' No Kiss example to inspire your participation:

First, because this is my blog and obviously, it all comes back to Thor**

and Second, a Clip for you, because that is how it is done-- Pride and Prejudice is a traditionally fantastic choice! Oh, Darcy!




So! If you're ready to accept the challenge of the No Kiss Blogfest, Sign ups begin Now!

*I know, I know I said I was on Hiatus but the No Kiss Blogfest ALWAYS Supercedes Hiatusing! It's TRADITION!

**yes I screencapped this from the Thor and Jane Featurette Marvel put out to promote the movie, which you can watch HERE!